Poll

Local News

9.12.060 Burning within the city limits
A. No person shall, within the city limits, burn any material in open air or inside a stove or other enclosed apparatus kept outside a building and designed to contain burning material.
B. Exemptions:
Leaves, tree trimmings, branches, stumps, weeds, grass or yard trimmings for the express purpose of being burned to generate heat may be burned.
C. Burning shall not be done:
1-On streets, alleys or public right of ways.

Vandalia’s director of public works last week agreed, on a trial basis, to have his department take care of what he perceives to be the most-significant leaf disposal issue.
And, in doing so, John Moyer told city officials that he feels the city can continue to allow city residents to burn leaves.
A meeting on possible revisions to the city’s burn ordinance last Thursday was called to address some residents’ complaints about leaf-burning. Also to be considered were any possible revisions related to fire pits and other types of burning.

A week after city officials learned that a local plant would be shut down this summer, Vandalia’s mayor said strong emphasis is being placed on finding a new occupant for that space.
Rick Gottman said at Monday’s city council meeting that he and a team of local individuals began meeting last week after Graham Packaging announced that it is closing its Vandalia plant.

The CEFS/Golden Circle Nutrition Program has announced that it held Mayors for Meals Day on April 2 as part of its March of Meals awareness
Vandalia Mayor Ricky Gottman participated in the Mayors for Meals event to show his support for the community’s seniors.
“We are excited about having Mayor Gottman participate in our event,” said Debbie Weber, project director.
March for Meals is a national campaign to raise awareness of homebound seniors, and to encourage action on the part of the local community.

The annual gathering for all former area Illinois Bell Telephone operators and linemen will be held at noon next Monday at Ponderosa Steakhouse in Vandalia. All men and women employees, and their spouses, are invited to attend.

A spring storm on Saturday evening hit hardest in the southeast part of Fayette County.

Some of the most significant damage was at the home of Pete and Pam LeDuc in the Augsburg area (first photo). A large evergreen tree was felled, leaving a large hole in the roof and breaking out a large window in the front of their home. Also in that area, Wilberton Township employee Keith Cole was called out to plow roads covered with hail (second photo).

A judge has ruled that a Loogootee teen who murdered a neighbor couple while they slept in their home will remain in the state’s juvenile corrections system for the time being.
Judge Michael McHaney filed that ruling in the Clifford W. Baker case on Monday, three days after hearing arguments related to Baker’s possible transfer to the state’s adult corrections system.
Baker will now become eligible for transfer to the Illinois Department of Corrections when he turns 18 in December.